Policy Information
Congressional Task Force
NASHIA is working with the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force staff on issues surrounding reauthorization of the TBI Act, which expired in 2005, and funding for TBI programs. NASHIA is calling on its members to encourage their Senators and Representatives to join the Task Force or thank them for having already joined.
In March 2001 Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) and James C. Greenwood (PA) formed a bipartisan Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to further education about and awareness of brain injury (incidence, prevalence, prevention, and treatment) and to support funding for basic and applied research on brain injury rehabilitation and the development of a cure. Currently, Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) and Todd Platts (PA) are co-chairs.
Mission:
To further education and awareness of brain injury (incidence, prevalence, prevention and treatment) and support funding for basic and applied research on brain injury rehabilitation and development of a cure.
The Task Force will hold up to four meetings and events per year to:
- Brief Members of Congress on the status of brain injury in the US;
- Acquire and assemble reports on the implementation of the TBI Act;
- Recognize and observe Brain Injury Awareness Month;
- Serve as a clearinghouse of information for the Congress and the public;
- Circulate "Dear Colleague" letters to other Members of Congress in support of funding for the TBI Act and other brain injury research and programmatic initiatives; and
- Provide guidance to federal agencies on policies and proposed rulemaking affecting brain injury programs.
The Task Force's first briefing was held June 27, 2001 and focused on brain anatomy, trends in basic and applied research, and the needs of individuals with brain injury and their families. On October 17, 2001, the Task Force hosted an all-day Brain Injury Awareness Fair and reception featuring the activities of federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, and National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research and others. The Awareness Fair has become an annual event with the focus in more recent years on brain injuries among the military, particularly those resulting from the fighting in Iraq.
On March 13, 2007 the Task Force sponsored a Congressional Briefing on "TBI: The Signature Wound of the War on Terrorism." NASHIA is working with the Task Force staff on issues surrounding reauthorization of the TBI Act and funding for TBI programs. NASHIA is calling on members to encourage their Senators and Representative to join the Task Force and request that state-based service system capacity issues be addressed at a future briefing.
Members of the 110th Congressional Brain Injury Task Force:
Co-chairs
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Rep. Todd R. Platts
Members
Neil Abercombie, HI-01
Robert Andrews, NJ-01
Joe Baca, CA-43
Brian Baird, WA-03
Tammy Baldwin, WI-02
Gresham Barrett, SC-03
Howard Berman, CA-28
Marion Berry, AR-01
Leonard Boswell IA-03
Rick Boucher, VA-09
Allen Boyd, FL-02
Bob Brady, PA-01
Corrine Brown, FL-03
Henry Brown, SC-01
Lois Capps, CA-23
Mike Capuano, MA-08
Donna Christensen, VI
James Clyburn, SC-06
Danny Davis, IL-07
Tom Davis, VA-11
Peter DeFazio, OR-04
Diana DeGette, CO-01
Lloyd Doggett, TX-25
Michael Doyle, PA-14
Rahm Emanuel, IL-05
Bob Etheridge, NC-02
Mike Ferguson, NJ-07
Bob Filner, CA-51
Mark Foley, FL-16
Randy Forbes, VA-04
Virgil Goode, VA-05
Bob Goodlatte, VA-06
Gene Green, TX-29
Ralph Hall, TX-04
Orrin Hatch, UT
Robin Hayes, NC-08
Stephanie Herseth, SD
Brian Higgins, NY-27
Maurice Hinchey, NY-22
Rush Holt, NJ-12
Tim Holden, PA-17
Darlene Hooley, OR-05
Bob Inglis, SC-04
Shelia Jackson-Lee, TX-18
William Jefferson, LA-02
Tim Johnson, SD
Paul Kanjorski, PA-11
Patrick Kennedy, RI-01
Dale Kildee, MI-05
John “Randy” Kuhl, NY-29
James Langevin, RI-02
John Larson, CT-01
Frank Lautenberg, NJ
James Leach, IA-01
Barbara Lee, CA-09
Frank LoBiondo, NJ-02
Edward Markey, MA-07
John Murtha, PA-12
Carolyn McCarthy, NY-04
Thaddeus McCotter, MI-11
James McDermott, WA- 07
James McGovern, MA-03
Michael McNulty, NY-21
Bob Menendez, NJ
Michael Michaud, ME-02
Jim Moran, VA-08
Jerrold Nadler, NY-08
Richard Neal, MA-02
Frank Pallone, NJ-06
Donald Payne, NJ-10
Collin Peterson, MN-07
David Price, NC-04
Jim Ramstad, MN-03
Mike Rogers, AL-03
Mike Rogers, MI-08
Mike Ross, AR-04
Steve Rothman, NJ-09
C.A. Ruppersberger, MD-2
Tim Ryan, OH-17
Linda Sanchez, CA-39
Jim Saxton, NJ-03
Adam Schiff, CA-29
Allyson Schwartz, PA-13
Brad Sherman, CA-27
Louise Slaughter, NY-28
Vic Snyder, AR-02
John Spratt, SC-05
Cliff Stearns, FL-06
John Tanner, TN-08
Bennie Thompson, MS-02
Mike Thompson, CA-01
Patrick Tiberi, OH-12
Edolphus Towns, NY-10
Fred Upton, MI-06
Chris Van Hollen, MD-08
Zach Wamp, TN-03
Henry Waxman, CA-30
Robert Wexler, FL-19
Joe Wilson, SC-02
Heather Wilson, NM-01
Lynn Woolsey, CA-06
Albert Wynn, MD-04
NASHIA Congressional Briefing Testimony, March 17, 2005 [Word 46KB]
Letter to the House Appropriations Committee [PDF 175 KB] sent September 20, 2006 from the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force urging support for $19 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC).
